Asian American Diversity and Growth

Abstract

This article examines how the growth and diversification of Asian Americans have shaped their integration into the US mainstream. I first review recent trends in demographic diversification, socioeconomic differentiation, and geospatial dispersion among Asians. As a high-achieving minority group, Asians—on average—have surpassed Whites in education, income, and wealth. This narrative, however, is inaccurate and incomplete, rendering intra-Asian disparities invisible. One consequence of intra-Asian diversity is the divergent destinies of hyperselected Asians and vulnerable Asians. Another is the increase in political polarization due to the rise of class-based politics. Despite increasing awareness of intra-Asian diversity, the current conceptual framework and data infrastructure are woefully inadequate, with an inherent bias toward the inclusion of the largest Asian groups at the exclusion of small and vulnerable Asian groups. Data disaggregation and integration can fill this gap by identifying new challenges and opportunities for research and policy interventions.